2011 Winners

On November 10, 2011 SJF Institute honored this year’s winners of the nationally recognized Green Jobs Award at a reception at the Citi Executive Conference Center in New York. Jonathan Greenblatt, the new Director of the White House Office of Social Innovation and Civic Participation provided the keynote for the event. He extended his thanks to this group of mavericks whose work and drive are leading to job creation and renewal of the economy. Jonathan also noted that the Green Jobs Award program and these winning companies are disproving that business is only for profit; these companies are creating the world in which we all want to live.

Better World Books (Alpharetta, GA)- with three additional locations in Indiana and another in Edinburgh, Scotland, Better World Books is an online resale company with 349 employees that also supports literacy efforts worldwide. Click here to read more >>

Pacific Biodiesel (Kahului, HI)- With an additional location in Honolulu, Pacific Biodiesel operated the first retail biodiesel pump in America, and now produces and sells approximately 1 million gallons of ASTM standard biodiesel annually in Hawaii. Founders Kelly and Bob King partnered with Willie and Annie Nelson and Darryl Hannah in 2007 to create the Sustainable Biodiesel Alliance. Click here to read more about Pacific Biodiesel.

SolarCity (San Mateo, CA)- A full service solar provider with 25 business location around the US, SolarCity is growing rapidly with over 1,350 employees and more than 15,000 projects completed or underway in 10 states. Click here to read more >>

Sungevity (Oakland, CA)- With an additional Berkeley location, Sungevity is a residential solar installer that has pioneered an online 24-hour iQuote process allowing it to use satellite images an aerial photography to assess customers’ roofs remotely. The firm offers great pay and excellent benefits for its 240 fully-engaged employees. Click here to read more about Sungevity.

The Taylor Companies (Bedford, OH)- With a second location in Lynwood, CA, Taylor is a seventh generation furniture manufacturer and a green pioneer in a traditional industry. Taylor is the first furniture manufacturer member of The Climate Registry; the firm publishes its greenhouse gas emissions and other key sustainability information on a Sustainability Facts Label that is also included with all its products. Click here to read more >>